Summer Smartlipo

At Gupta Plastic Surgery in San Diego, Calif., a common complaint Dr. Abhay Gupta hears from patients is that they eat healthily and exercise regularly, yet they cannot get rid of stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to their healthy lifestyle habits.

If this sounds familiar, we can help. Dr. Gupta offers Smartlipo in San Diego, a minimally invasive, laser-assisted liposuction technique used to remove unwanted fat from under the skin, with as little downtime as possible. Smartlipo generally provides less bruising, less postoperative discomfort and much faster healing times than conventional liposuction approaches. This makes it the perfect cosmetic surgery procedure for summer. Many patients are able to return to the beach or pool within a week of surgery (as long as they keep their incision sites protected from the sun)!

What Smartlipo Improves

With Smartlipo, Dr. Gupta can eliminate excess fat from nearly any area of the body, including the abdomen, back, thighs, upper arms and chin, among other areas. Smartlipo contours pesky “problem areas” and provides a sleeker profile overall. Also, thanks to the laser energy used during the procedure, Smartlipo offers the additional benefit of tightening the skin in the treatment area, for a smoother contour.

Who Is an Appropriate Candidate for Smartlipo?

Prospective Smartlipo patients are encouraged to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Gupta to determine whether they are suitable candidates for the procedure.

• Are at or just slightly above their ideal body weight but are bothered by localized deposits of fat that are resistant to a healthy diet and exercise regimen
•  Do not suffer from serious medical conditions or practice certain lifestyle habits that could complicate surgery or inhibit the body’s ability to heal (e.g., cardiovascular problems, autoimmune diseases, smoking)
•  Have realistic expectations for the outcome of Smartlipo surgery
•  Have decided to undergo the procedure of their own volition

Note: Smartlipo is not intended as a tool for major weight loss. Therefore, appropriate candidates are at a bodyweight they feel they can maintain after surgery. Although the fat cells removed during the Smartlipo procedure will not grow back, significant weight gain (about 10 percent or more of one’s bodyweight) can cause the remaining fat cells to grow bigger or stimulate the growth of new fat cells, both in the treatment area and in other areas of the body.

Benefits of Smartlipo

The principal benefit of Smartlipo is that it typically provides patients with a quicker recovery period than traditional liposuction techniques do, with less postsurgical discomfort throughout the treatment area. This is largely because the use of the laser during the procedure helps minimize blood loss and bruising.

Another major benefit of Smartlipo is that it is performed under local anesthesia, so it eliminates the risk of complications related to the use of general anesthesia. Avoiding the use of general anesthesia also makes the procedure a more cost-effective option than traditional liposuction techniques that require costly general anesthesia.

In addition, using a laser during liposuction surgery allows Dr. Gupta to remove fat cells more evenly, delivering precisely sculpted results. Using a laser also helps activate the body’s collagen production, coagulating the skin and, thus, providing a skin-tightening effect throughout the treatment area.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Smartlipo surgery is an outpatient procedure, performed under local anesthesia. Patients can also opt to take a mild oral sedative prior to the start of the procedure, so they feel comfortable for the duration of surgery.

Dr. Gupta starts the procedure by making a miniscule incision in the treatment area. He then inserts a cannula (a thin, hollow tube) containing the Smartlipo laser fiber. Dr. Gupta directs the laser’s thermal energy into the targeted fat cells, melting them so they can be removed easily. Once the fat cells have been liquefied, the San Diego Smartlipo surgeon uses a suctioning action to remove the unwanted fat.

What to Expect During the Recovery Period

Following the Smartlipo procedure, the treatment area may feel tender or mildly sore. Many patients remark that it feels like they have completed a tough weight-training workout. Any minor discomfort can be alleviated by taking oral pain medication. With ample rest, many individuals recover within 24 to 72 hours of surgery and are ready to hit the beach soon thereafter.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Gupta to learn more about Smartlipo, please contact Gupta Plastic Surgery by calling (858) 408-6100.

Fun Fact of the Month: Although the roots of liposuction can be traced back to the 1920s (with poor results), the first liposuction procedure in the second half of the 20th century was performed in 1974 with the use of an internally rotating scalpel, and is attributed to two Italian gynecologists, Dr. Giorgio Fischer and his son Dr. Giorgio Fischer, Jr. In 1982, Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz introduced the “Illouz Method” of liposuction surgery, involving suction-assisted lipolysis after infusing fluid into the tissues in the treatment area. Liposuction techniques and technology continue to evolve to this day.